DR Congo: 39 children choose their sponsors at the first Chosen Event in Karawa PA
![Child choosing his sponsor](/sites/default/files/styles/medium_landscape/public/2024-04/IMG_1119%20copy.jpg?itok=xO1i1roq)
By Didier Nagifi, Communications Officer
World Vision DRC has launched its first Chosen Event in its Karawa program area in the province of North Ubangi in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
During the event, 39 children from Karawa chose their sponsors. This was done through an exhibition of photos of the sponsors. They expressed their joy at seeing their sponsors for the first time. The 39 children were also accompanied by their parents, which contributed to the smooth running of the event, which the community attended for the first time.
"I'm very happy to have seen the staff from World Vision come to Karawa today with the photos of the sponsors for our children to choose and this activity went well. I am also one of the parents whose child has chosen his sponsor and my heart is filled with joy, I saw that it was a blessing for our community of Karawa. As my child has chosen his sponsor, this will bring development to Karawa and our difficulties will be reduced. May God bless World Vision and the sponsors for all they do for our community", says Jonas, one of the parents present at the event.
Parents, sponsored children, local authorities, religious denominations, and community volunteers expressed their hope that the Chosen initiative will lead to the development and transformation of their community through the projects that will be implemented by World Vision.
"My name is Henriette, and I'm very happy to be here. When I chose my sponsor, I was very happy. Before choosing, I looked at their photo and realized that there were five people in their family and we are also five people in my family", rejoice, Henriette, a sponsored child.
The Chosen event went well and generated great interest and ownership among the local population. Encouraging and optimistic testimonials are proof that everyone is ready to support this initiative to ensure its success.
"I'm very happy to have taken part in the celebration of this event. Before my child went to choose his sponsor, I was moved, but afterward, my heart was filled with joy", Jeannette, parent of a sponsored child.
"I'm very happy. We saw the children choose their sponsors, accompanied by their parents. From now on, when we visit the children in the community, their parents won't stop us - we'll be made to feel very welcome", says community volunteer Chicky.
As World Vision's newest child sponsorship initiative, Chosen has given children the power to choose their sponsors through a photo exhibition, replacing the old method of sponsorship which involved allowing the sponsor to choose the child or children to sponsor.
After the Ledia program area, Karawa is the second Gemena Cluster area program in the Democratic Republic of Congo to organize the Chosen event with 39 children.